"Silly child, you are your mother's own son, of course your mother believes in you."
Although the Empress Dowager was also very close to her maternal family, in her heart, her son was still the most important person.
So when Qianlong asked her question, she smiled and explained in a low voice.
"Although Niohuru is my mother's niece, my mother married your father when she was thirteen and spent less time with Niohuru, so her relationship with her is naturally not as close as with you."
"Moreover, a mother naturally trusts her own child the most. Outsiders will always be outsiders, while my child and I are the closest relatives by blood."
Hearing his mother's words, Qianlong was deeply moved. He was already very filial to his mother, and in the days that followed, he became even more filial and respectful to the Empress Dowager.
It was also because of the Empress Dowager's words that Emperor Qianlong had no more reservations when dealing with Lady Niohuru.
Without even meeting Niohuru, he directly ordered Li Yu to read out the imperial edict, stripping Niohuru of her title, demoting her from Consort Shen to a low-ranking concubine.
She was confined to her quarters for another six months, so that she could reflect on her mistakes in the palace.
If it weren't for her Niohuru family background, Emperor Qianlong would have demoted her to the lowest rank of concubine, but in the end he spared her, saving face for his maternal family.
Although Emperor Qianlong outwardly gave the Niohuru family face, he secretly sent people to Niohuru Fangzhen's home.
He severely reprimanded her parents, saying they had failed to raise their daughter properly and had plotted against a palace concubine. He also demoted several of Niohuru Fangzhen's brothers, and only then did he feel relieved.
Leaving aside how shocked, angry, and furious Niohuru was when she learned of this news, Yunyi was overjoyed when she heard it from Rongxin.
I've tolerated you for over a decade, and now I'm finally going to teach you a lesson.
If you weren't still somewhat useful, we would have dealt with you back then; there's no way we'd keep you alive until now.
Niohuru Changzai was confined to her quarters for half a year and demoted, but the concubines in the palace had no idea what had happened. No matter how they inquired, they found nothing.
It can only be said that Emperor Qianlong kept this news very well hidden, not revealing a single word.
"You wretch, that wretch Nara! It's all her fault for stealing my position as a secondary consort and now she's made me a demoted and punished person by the Emperor. Nara, you just wait and see how I deal with you."
She smashed the bottles and jars to pieces, and only then did she feel a little better.
Chun Tao knelt on the ground, trembling with fear. "It's all over. The master is so angry. He's definitely going to take it out on us servants again."
Thinking of those terrifying images, Chun Tao couldn't help but shudder.
This scene was witnessed by Niohuru, who became even angrier: "What, am I so scary that you tremble when you see me?"
"Your Highness has misunderstood. This servant was just... this servant was just..." Out of fear, Chun Tao hurriedly tried to explain, but stammered and couldn't get the words out.
*Slap!* Niohuru slapped Chun Tao hard across the face, not wanting to hear her lame excuses.
"Please forgive me, my lord! I know I was wrong, I know I was wrong!" Chun Tao begged for mercy repeatedly as she was being beaten, but this only made Niohuru more enthusiastic.
She slapped her again, then kicked Chun Tao several times before finally taking pity on her and letting her go.
Chun Tao didn't even dare to cover her face, afraid of angering her master again. She knelt down and bowed before respectfully retreating.
As soon as she stepped out the door, tears streamed down her face uncontrollably. She reached up and touched her cheek, which was red, swollen, and broken; it hurt terribly to the touch.
Even after venting her anger, Niohuru was still busy. Sitting in her chair, her little brain was working fast, thinking about how to make Nara suffer.
As she pondered, a beautiful figure appeared in her mind; that person could be of use.
Having come up with a good idea, Niohuru smiled coldly and then called for a palace maid to come in and tidy up the room.
Chun Tao, disregarding the medicine on her face, quickly led two palace maids inside to help Niohuru clean up the broken pieces on the ground.
If she were even a little late, she would be punished by her master again.
The group quickly and carefully cleaned up the debris on the ground, making very little noise.
When everyone had finished packing and was about to leave, Niohuru called out to Chuntao, "Everyone else, please leave. Chuntao, you stay. I have something to tell you."
The two palace maids looked at Chun Tao with sympathetic eyes and quickly retreated. What if their master kept them there if they were too late? Of course, they had to leave as soon as possible.
Chun Tao was terrified. She approached Niohuru and asked respectfully, "Master, what are your orders?"
Niohuru beckoned, and Chuntao, being very perceptive, leaned over and overheard her mistress whispering something.
Chun Tao looked troubled: "Master, this, isn't this too much..."
She glanced coldly at Chun Tao and said, "What, my words don't carry any weight? Just do what I tell you to do, stop talking nonsense."
"Yes, yes, yes, this servant will go right away, please calm down, Master!"
...
Yunyi learned of Niohuru's scheme from the props. Although she knew, she did not stop her, but let Niohuru carry out her plan.
One month later, on a peaceful morning, Rong Xin walked in and quietly reported some news.
“My lady, I’ve noticed something strange about Wei Shuyan in Chengqian Palace lately. She’s been in private contact with Consort Niohuru in Yanxi Palace. What do you think, should I…”
This Wei Shuyan originally served in Empress Xiaoxian's Changchun Palace. After Empress Xiaoxian passed away, she was transferred to Yunyi's palace.
She had always been very capable, and since she came from Changchun Palace, Yunyi had promoted her quite a bit. Now she was a second-class palace maid in Chengqian Palace, in charge of the flowers and plants in Yunyi Palace.
Yunyi already knew what Niohuru was planning, so she wasn't surprised at all when Rongxin said this. She simply told Rongxin, "Keep a close eye on her and don't make any moves for now. I have a use for her."
A few more days passed, and Wei Shuyan brought people in to deliver flowers to Yunyi to decorate the inner palace. Yunyi took advantage of the moment when no one was looking and stuck a loyalty charm on her.
With the Loyalty Talisman under her control, Wei Shuyan appeared to be a member of the Niohuru clan, but in reality, she was controlled by Yun Yi.
As soon as the Loyalty Talisman entered his body, Yun Yi could immediately feel Wei Shuyan being controlled by him.
After that, she remained still and did nothing, simply waiting for Niohuru to take action and see how she would carry out her plan.
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